Church Gives Out Instructions for Ordinances, Etc.

[Calm]

This overlaps multiple threads, so posting it here rather than several times:

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-letter-administrative-principles-in-challenging-times

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/essential-ordinances-blessings-other-church-functions

Couple of quotes to give an idea...

Quote

In exceptional times, ordinances can usually be accomplished while exercising necessary precautions. For example, when communicable disease is a concern, those who perform ordinances should thoroughly wash their hands and may also use gloves and face masks.

 

Quote

Administering the Sacrament 

Members should take advantage of the blessings of attending sacrament meeting and partaking of the sacrament weekly when possible. In exceptional circumstances, when ward sacrament meetings are not held for an extended time, a bishop may authorize worthy priesthood holders in his ward to prepare and administer the sacrament in their own homes or in the homes of other ward members who do not have a worthy priest or Melchizedek Priesthood holder in the home. (See General Handbook, 18.9.1.) When needed, the sacrament may be administered by a single priest or Melchizedek Priesthood holder.

Members may provide their own bread and water. However, preparing the sacrament should be done by the authorized priesthood holder(s). The priesthood holder(s) administering the sacrament must be in the same location as those who receive it when they break the bread, say the prayers, and pass the emblems. In unusual circumstances when the sacrament is not available, members can be comforted by studying the sacrament prayers and recommitting to live the covenants members have made and praying for the day they will receive it in person, properly administered by the priesthood.

Individuals and families are blessed when they can hold a private, home-centered Sabbath worship service, in person or remotely. Such worship can include prayers, hymns, and gospel study. When authorized, priesthood holder(s) are present, the sacrament may be blessed and passed.

Other Church Functions

Meetings. In extreme circumstances, leaders may temporarily suspend meetings and activities. When conditions require, bishopric meetings, interviews, and ward council meetings may take place remotely using technology, such as phone calls or video calls. Bishops and ward leaders may use technology for messages to supplement a member’s home-centered worship.

Additional resource:

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/guidance-administer-the-church-in-challenging-times

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In addition to the long-time counsel for members to have food storage in their homes, Church members are focused on observing the Sabbath day, ministering to others, and strengthening Melchizedek Priesthood quorums and Relief Societies. Through His prophets, the Lord has increased focus on home-centered, Church-supported gospel learning and living. Members have been encouraged to make their homes true sanctuaries of faith where children and youth are taught the gospel. The Come, Follow Me curriculum provides a model where members everywhere learn the gospel in their homes and at Church. The Children and Youth program is also home centered, allowing parents to nurture their children spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially.

Members have been encouraged to use technology to share gospel messages in normal and natural ways. Missionaries have been provided devices that permit them to find and teach even when in-person contact is not possible. Members can engage in family history work from their homes.

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by Calm

[Calm]

Quote

Meetings. In extreme circumstances, leaders may temporarily suspend meetings and activities. When conditions require, bishopric meetings, interviews, and ward council meetings may take place remotely using technology, such as phone calls or video calls. Bishops and ward leaders may use technology for messages to supplement a member’s home-centered worship.

While this doesn't come out and state don't hold virtual Sunday Services, it certainly doesn't encourage them it seems to me.  Messages are not meetings.

Edited April 18, 2020 by Calm

[Calm]

These may have already been posted, but nice all in one spot imo.

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/responding-to-covid-19-answers-to-questions

Glad to see this was mentioned:

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What should be done with addiction recovery and self-reliance classes held weekly in Church buildings? 

They should be held via technology.

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/coronavirus-update

Edited April 17, 2020 by Calm

[Scott Lloyd]

6 hours ago, Calm said:

This overlaps multiple threads, so posting it here rather than several times:

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-letter-administrative-principles-in-challenging-times

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/essential-ordinances-blessings-other-church-functions

Couple of quotes to give an idea...

 

Additional resource:

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/guidance-administer-the-church-in-challenging-times

 

Looks like Smac beat you on this by about four hours. 

Edited April 18, 2020 by Scott Lloyd

[Calm]

7 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Looks like Smac beat you on this by about four hours. 

Hmmm...must have been out of it when I checked to see. 

[alter idem]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

Hmmm...must have been out of it when I checked to see. 

I missed his post too. Sometimes things get buried in threads.

[Scott Lloyd]

9 hours ago, alter idem said:

I missed his post too. Sometimes things get buried in threads.

It wasn’t a post. It was a thread: “Church issues guidelines ...” 

Edited April 18, 2020 by Scott Lloyd

[Calm]

The thread had one post of his and only that post btw in it, so missing his post is accurate.

https://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/72823-church-issues-guidelines-on-ordinancesevents-weddings-funerals-baby-blessings/

 

[Scott Lloyd]

2 hours ago, Calm said:

The thread had one post of his and only that post btw in it, so missing his post is accurate.

https://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/72823-church-issues-guidelines-on-ordinancesevents-weddings-funerals-baby-blessings/

 

But if it was the only post in the thread, it couldn’t have been buried in the thread. 

[Calm]

She said "threads" meaning the topic page, not the thread itself.

[Scott Lloyd]

3 hours ago, Calm said:

She said "threads" meaning the topic page, not the thread itself.

It was ambiguously written, but I can see that might have been what she meant. Or it might be read to mean that as threads go, sometimes a post can get buried in a thread. 

[LoudmouthMormon]

Y'all saw what the church respectfully but firmly asserted when it comes to following social distancing laws, right? (underlining mine)

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The Church teaches that its members should sustain and uphold the laws where they reside. These governments enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest. We acknowledge that in exceptional circumstances all individual rights may be reasonably restricted, for a time to protect the safety of the general public.

In times of pandemic or natural disaster, the Church will respond to official orders to take needed actions such as canceling or postponing meetings or other gatherings. The Church and its members are committed to being good citizens and good neighbors. The Church has a long history of reaching out and providing assistance to those in need.

Along with our commitment to be good global citizens, we respectfully assert that reasonable accommodations be extended to all people of faith as they strive to participate in rites that are foundational to their faith.

So, sustain and uphold the laws, but we're not asking for accommodations, we're asserting.   Take a look at the instructions here:

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In exceptional times, ordinances can usually be accomplished while exercising necessary precautions. For example, when communicable disease is a concern, those who perform ordinances should thoroughly wash their hands and may also use gloves and face masks.

Baptisms and Confirmations

Baptisms and confirmations require the approval of a priesthood leader with the appropriate keys. When needed, baptismal services may proceed with as few as four people: the baptismal candidate, the priest or Melchizedek Priesthood holder performing the baptism, and two witnesses. A baptism is performed under the authorization of a bishop or mission president who holds the necessary priesthood keys.

  

Compare to the instructions here on weddings:

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Where restricted by government regulations, weddings, receptions, and funerals should not be held in meetinghouses. As permitted by law, bishops and stake presidents may officiate in weddings in an appropriate setting where social distancing can be maintained. Technology may also be used to allow family and friends to view the service. Leaders and members should comply with government orders, regulations and guidelines.

 

So, we'll follow laws regarding weddings, but no mention of the law on baptisms/confirmations.  In areas where any gatherings are prohibited, what conclusion is a bishop/mission president/stake president to draw?

(During Colorado lockdown, I'm spending a lot of time on the internet and thinking about zombie movies, am I reading too much into things here?)

[Scott Lloyd]

On 4/19/2020 at 9:18 PM, LoudmouthMormon said:

Y'all saw what the church respectfully but firmly asserted when it comes to following social distancing laws, right? (underlining mine)

So, sustain and uphold the laws, but we're not asking for accommodations, we're asserting.   Take a look at the instructions here:

  

Compare to the instructions here on weddings:

 

So, we'll follow laws regarding weddings, but no mention of the law on baptisms/confirmations.  In areas where any gatherings are prohibited, what conclusion is a bishop/mission president/stake president to draw?

(During Colorado lockdown, I'm spending a lot of time on the internet and thinking about zombie movies, am I reading too much into things here?)

Operative phrase here is “reasonable accommodations.” 
 

The guidelines point out a baptism/confirmation could be carried out with as few as four people. All four could be members of a single household: the baptismal candidate; a priest or Melchizedek Priesthood holder to do the baptism; the same Melchizedek Priesthood holder to do the confirmation; two members of the household to be witnesses (who these days could be of either gender). 
 

I can’t see any government officeholder objecting to that — unless it’s the governor of Michigan. 
 

A priesthood blessing on the sick or afflicted could be performed by a single Melchizedek Priesthood holder, who could wear a mask and gloves at the time. 

Edited April 21, 2020 by Scott Lloyd

[The Nehor]

We are planning a baptism and the current plan is no more than 10 people in a gathering. Plan is to have the child and their immediate family, one person to baptize (no one in family can), and let others who want to watch view remotely. Social distancing for the bishop and baptizer except for during the ordinance.

I am not endorsing or disapproving the the plan, just sharing it.

[Scott Lloyd]

14 hours ago, The Nehor said:

We are planning a baptism and the current plan is no more than 10 people in a gathering. Plan is to have the child and their immediate family, one person to baptize (no one in family can), and let others who want to watch view remotely. Social distancing for the bishop and baptizer except for during the ordinance.

I am not endorsing or disapproving the the plan, just sharing it.

There are places just now where a gathering of 10 would be considered too many. The country is that much on edge. 
 

The bishop wouldn’t have to be present. He would just have to give his OK, as with sacrament at home. 
 

The entire immediate family would not have to be there either, just two to be witnesses, assuming they are Church members. Mother could be one of the witnesses, as well as helping out in the dressing room (assuming it is her daughter who is being baptized). 
 

Father could be the other witness. 
 

The same person who does the baptizing could perform the confirmation. 

Edited April 22, 2020 by Scott Lloyd

[The Nehor]

23 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

There are places just now where a gathering of 10 would be considered too many. The country is that much on edge. 
 

The bishop wouldn’t have to be present. He would just have to give his OK, as with sacrament at home. 
 

The entire immediate family would not have to be there either, just two to be witnesses, assuming they are Church members. Mother could be one of the witnesses, as well as helping out in the dressing room (assuming it is her daughter who is being baptized). 
 

Father could be the other witness. 
 

The same person who does the baptizing could perform the confirmation. 

You sound like I did trying to cut down the numbers there. I said it should be a member of the bishopric, his mom, and one person to baptize (so we have the two witnesses). Then that person or the member of the bishopric do confirmation.

[Hamba Tuhan]

We currently cannot hold a baptism at all unless all of the participants live in the same household. (Public gatherings are limited to two people who don't live together.) We discussed doing a convert baptism in the lake with the witnesses on the bridge, but in the end we decided our baptisms will just have to wait. No point drawing negative attention to ourselves. Waiting for blessings seems to be a feature of discipleship from Old Testament times, from what I can tell.

[The Nehor]

I admit part of my concern is that an epidemic spreading church “event” could destroy someone’s testimony leaving them demanding to know why God let that happen and angry with God for doing this to them.  

[Hamba Tuhan]

4 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

I admit part of my concern is that an epidemic spreading church “event” could destroy someone’s testimony leaving them demanding to know why God let that happen and angry with God for doing this to them.  

Yep. I love that our prophets told us to cancel all gatherings and stay at home before our government here did.

[The Nehor]

7 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

Yep. I love that our prophets told us to cancel all gatherings and stay at home before our government here did.

I suspect there will be a general announcement that meetings can resume if the Area Presidency judges it prudent to do so with strict instructions not to resume until they are told to do so. I have already seen people so antsy to get back to normal that they slip and think they resume church as soon as it is legal to do so when really it is the call of the apostles to say when they resume. I expect there will also be a few rogue units trying to open up early and preempt the leadership but I hope I am wrong.

[Hamba Tuhan]

46 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

I have already seen people so antsy to get back to normal that they slip and think they resume church as soon as it is legal to do so when really it is the call of the apostles to say when they resume.

Exactly. Some of the restrictions recently handed down by our Area Presidency exceed local government restrictions. I've complained to a couple of close mates, but it's not my call to make.

[Scott Lloyd]

On 4/22/2020 at 9:35 PM, The Nehor said:

You sound like I did trying to cut down the numbers there. I said it should be a member of the bishopric, his mom, and one person to baptize (so we have the two witnesses). Then that person or the member of the bishopric do confirmation.

In my hypothetical scenario, only members of the household would be involved (bishopric member need not be there so long as the bishop had given authorization). But I assume in the real-life case to which you are referring, that’s not possible. 
 

I haven’t experienced mandatory lockdown, as Utah is one of only eight states in which it has not yet been imposed. I’m guessing the clash between public health measures and civil liberties (including religious liberty and freedom of assembly) is thus not yet as serious here as it is elsewhere. 

Edited April 24, 2020 by Scott Lloyd

[The Nehor]

On 4/23/2020 at 1:03 PM, Scott Lloyd said:

In my hypothetical scenario, only members of the household would be involved (bishopric member need not be there so long as the bishop had given authorization). But I assume in the real-life case to which you are referring, that’s not possible. 
 

I haven’t experienced mandatory lockdown, as Utah is one of only eight states in which it has not yet been imposed. I’m guessing the clash between public health measures and civil liberties (including religious liberty and freedom of assembly) is thus not yet as serious here as it is elsewhere. 

The lockdown here is relatively soft and our governor is trying to open things up. I think he is doing prematurely but we’ll see. It is a little scary how quick feedback comes. A lot of policy decisions you will not know who was right for months or years or decades. In this case you can wait 2 to 4 weeks and check hospitals and morgues and have a pretty good idea if it was the right call.

[Tacenda]

On 4/22/2020 at 10:14 PM, Hamba Tuhan said:

Yep. I love that our prophets told us to cancel all gatherings and stay at home before our government here did.

Very lazy here, but do you have a reference that shows a side by side of this?

[Hamba Tuhan]

4 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Very lazy here, but do you have a reference that shows a side by side of this?

 I have no clue what you're asking for.